Detachable grease cup for smoke exhauster

ABSTRACT

A smoke exhauster includes a housing having one or more orifices each for receiving an oil cup, and a catching device for catching the oil cup to the housing when the oil cup is moved upwardly relative to the housing, and to release the oil cup from the housing when the oil cup is moved upwardly relative to the housing again. The catching device includes a follower slidably received in a container, and a grasping device for grasping the follower to the container when the follower is moved upwardly relative to the container, and to release the follower from the container when the follower is moved upwardly relative to the container again. The housing has one or more windows for viewing the oil cups.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a smoke exhauster, and more particularly to a smoke exhauster having a grease cup that may be easily and readily disengaged from the smoke exhauster without dirtying the hands of the users.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical smoke exhausters comprise a fan device for drawing or for circulating exhaust air or gas or smoke, and a grease or oil collector disposed in the bottom portion of the smoke exhauster, for collecting the grease or oil contained within the exhaust air or gas or smoke.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,349 to Wu discloses one of the typical oil collectors for upright smoke exhausters, and also comprising a grease or oil collector disposed below the fan device or disposed in the bottom portion of the smoke exhauster, for collecting the grease or oil contained within the exhaust air or gas or smoke.

Normally, the grease or oil collector is required to be secured to the smoke exhauster with one or more fasteners, such that additional tools are required for attaching or securing or detaching or disengaging the grease or oil collector from the smoke exhauster. In addition, both the smoke exhauster and the grease or oil collector will be covered with grease or oil, and the users hands will be dirtied by the grease or oil when attaching to or securing or detaching or disengaging the grease or oil collector from the smoke exhauster.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,436 to Chiang et al. discloses another smoke exhauster including two grease or oil collectors slidably attached to the smoke exhauster as a drawer, without additional fasteners and tools, and each having a projected tiny hand grip formed or provided thereon for being grasped or handled by the users.

However, the projected tiny hand grips of the grease or oil collectors may not be easily grasped or handled by the users, and the users hands will be dirtied by the grease or oil when attaching or securing the grease or oil collector to the smoke exhauster, particularly when detaching or disengaging the grease or oil collector from the smoke exhauster.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional smoke exhausters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a smoke exhauster including a grease cup that may be easily and readily disengaged from the smoke exhauster without dirtying the hands of the users.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a smoke exhauster comprising a housing including at least one fan device provided therein for smoke drawing purpose, and including at least one orifice formed therein, an oil cup engageable into the orifice of the housing, and a catching device for catching the oil cup to the housing when the oil cup is moved upwardly relative to the housing, and to release the oil cup from the housing when the oil cup is moved upwardly relative to the housing again, without dirtying the hands of the users.

The catching device includes a container for attaching to the housing, a follower slidably received and engaged in the container, and device for grasping the follower to the container when the follower is moved upwardly relative to the container, and to release the follower from the container when the follower is moved upwardly relative to the container again.

The follower includes two sides each having a channel formed therein and defined by a guide member which includes a socket formed therein, and the grasping device includes two spring legs slidably engaged into the channels of the follower, and selectively receivable in the sockets of the guide members, for grasping the follower to the container.

The channels of the follower each includes an inverted Y-shaped structure having two passageways formed therein for slidably receiving and guiding the spring legs. The guide members each includes a downwardly extended limb for engaging with and for guiding the spring legs to engage into the sockets of the guide members, and then to be disengaged from the sockets of the guide members.

The follower includes a stop extended from one of the sides thereof, and located below a first guide member of the guide members and opposite to the limb of the first guide member, and arranged to engage with the spring legs of the grasping device, and to guide the spring legs of the grasping device to engage into the sockets of the guide members.

The container includes a space formed therein for slidably receiving the follower therein, and a passage formed therein for engaging the grasping device into the space of the container. The container includes a peg extended into the space thereof, and an arm extended into the passage thereof, for engaging with the grasping device, and for positioning and retaining the grasping device in the space of the container.

The cup includes at least one projection extended therefrom, and the follower includes two resilient pawls extended therefrom for engaging with the projection of the oil cup, and for detachably retaining the oil cup to the receptacle. The housing includes a casing provided therein for receiving and anchoring the container, and for engaging with and for forcing the resilient pawls of the follower to engage with the projection of the oil cup.

The casing includes at least one cavity formed therein, the container includes at least one protrusion extended outwardly therefrom, for engaging with the cavity of the casing, and for detachably anchoring the container to the casing. The housing includes a receptacle provided therein and having a chamber formed therein and having an open bottom for allowing the oil cup to move upwardly and to engage into the chamber via the open bottom of the receptacle.

The receptacle includes an opening formed therein for viewing the oil cup. The housing includes an inner peripheral portion having at least one window provided therein, and aligned with the opening of the receptacle.

The catching device includes a spring element positioned between the follower and the container, for biasing the follower to move relative to the container. The follower includes a hole formed therein for receiving the spring element. The container includes a pole extended therefrom and engageable into the hole of the follower, for engaging with the spring element and for guiding the spring element.

The container includes a space formed therein and defined by an inner peripheral surface for slidably receiving the follower, and a groove formed therein and communicating with the space thereof, the follower includes a key extended therefrom and slidably engaged in the groove of the container, and for guiding the follower to move relative to the container.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a smoke exhauster in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial bottom perspective view of the smoke exhauster;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the smoke exhauster;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial front plan view of the smoke exhauster, in which a portion of the smoke exhauster has been cut off for showing an inner structure of the smoke exhauster;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the smoke exhauster, taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view illustrating a latching device for latching a grease or oil cup to the smoke exhauster;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial rear perspective view of the latching device of the smoke exhauster, in which a portion of the latching device has been cut off for showing an inner structure of the latching device;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial front perspective view of the latching device of the smoke exhauster, in which a portion of the latching device has also been cut off for showing an inner structure of the latching device;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional view of the latching device of the smoke exhauster, taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13 are partial cross sectional views similar to FIG. 9, illustrating the operation of the smoke exhauster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a smoke exhauster 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing 10 including a lower peripheral portion 11 having one or more orifices 12 formed therein, for detachably receiving one or more grease or oil cups 20 therein respectively, each with a positioning or latching means or device 30. The housing 10 includes an inner peripheral portion or wall 13 having one or more windows 14 formed or provided therein, and includes one or more fan devices 15 provided therein for air or smoke drawing or circulating purposes.

The latching devices 30 each includes a receptacle 31 engaged into the respective orifice 12 of the housing 10, and secured to the housing 10 with such as latches or fasteners (not shown), or by adhesive materials, or by welding processes or the like. The receptacle 31 includes a front opening 32 formed therein and aligned with the respective window 14 of the housing 10 (FIG. 2), for allowing the users to see through or into the receptacle 31, and includes one or more, such as two side peripheral recesses 33 formed therein.

One or more, such as two retaining frames 40 are provided and engaged into the respective side peripheral recesses 33 of the receptacle 31, for example, the retaining frames 40 each includes a flap 41 bent or extended therefrom, and perpendicular thereto, also for engaging into the respective side peripheral recesses 33 of the receptacle 31, and each includes a panel 42 bent or extended therefrom, and perpendicular thereto, for securing to the housing 10, and thus for solidly securing and positioning the receptacle 31 to the housing 10.

The receptacle 31 includes a chamber 35 formed therein and having an open bottom 36 for allowing the grease or oil cup 20 to be engaged into the chamber 35 via the open bottom 36 of the receptacle 31. It is preferable that the grease or oil cup 20 is made of transparent or semi-transparent materials (FIG. 5), for allowing the users to see the grease or oil level in the grease or oil cup 20, through the front opening 32 of the receptacle 31 and the window 14 of the housing 10. The receptacle 31 may also be made of transparent or semi-transparent materials (FIG. 5), for allowing the users to see the grease or oil cup 20 without the front opening 32 of the receptacle 31.

The receptacle 31 further includes one or more, such as two casings 37 disposed therein, such as disposed in the chamber 35 thereof and secured to the side portions thereof respectively, and each having a compartment 38 formed therein, and each having one or more, such as two cavities 39 formed therein (FIGS. 5 and 9-13), and a gripping or grasping or catching means or device 50 disposed or engaged in each of the casings 37, for gripping or catching or securing the grease or oil cup 20 to the receptacle 31. The grease or oil cup 20 includes one or more, such as two heads or projections 21 extended upwardly therefrom, for engaging with the catching devices 50, and for securing the grease or oil cup 20 to the receptacle 31.

As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the catching devices 50 each includes a container 51 for attaching to the housing 10, or for engaging into the compartment 38 of the respective casing 37, and having one or more, such as two protrusions 52 extended outwardly therefrom, for engaging with the cavities 39 of the casings 37, and for detachably attaching or securing or anchoring the containers 51 to the casings 37 respectively. The containers 51 each includes a space 53 formed therein and defined by an inner peripheral surface 54, and each includes a groove 55 formed therein and communicating with the space 53 thereof.

The containers 51 each further includes a peg 56 extended into the space 53 thereof and a passage 57 formed in the upper portion thereof, for engaging a spring or grasping means or device 60 into the space 53 of the container 51, and each further includes an arm 58 extended into the passage 57 thereof, for engaging with the grasping device 60, and for positioning and retaining the grasping device 60 in the space 53 of the container 51 with the peg 56 and the arm 58, and each further includes a pole 59 extended into the space 53 thereof. The grasping device 60 includes two spring legs 61, 62 extended therefrom.

A slide or follower 70 is slidably received or engaged in the space 53 of the container 51, and includes a key 71 extended therefrom, for slidably engaging in the groove 55 of the container 51, and for guiding the follower 70 to stably move up and down relative to the container 51, and includes a hole 72 formed therein for receiving a spring element 63 and the pole 59 of the container 51. The spring element 63 may be positioned by the pole 59, and may bias and force the follower 70 to slide or to move downwardly relative to the container 51.

The follower 70 includes two spring or resilient pawls 73 extended therefrom for engaging with the projections 21 of the grease or oil cup 20, best shown in FIGS. 9-13, and for detachably or releasably securing or retaining the grease or oil cup 20 to the receptacle 31 and/or the housing 10; and includes two sides 74 each having an inverted Y-shaped channel 75 formed therein, and defined by a guide member 80, 81. The inverted Y-shaped channels 75 on the opposite sides 74 of the follower 70 each includes two passageways 76, 77 formed therein.

The guide members 80, 81 each includes a seat or socket 82 formed therein, such as formed in the lower or bottom portion thereof, and defined by a downwardly extended limb 83, in which the limbs 83 of the guide members 80, 81 on the opposite sides 74 of the follower 70 are extended on different or opposite direction. The inverted Y-shaped channels 75 of the follower 70 are arranged to slidably receive the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60, and the guide members 80, 81 are arranged to engage with the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60, to allow the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 to be engaged into the sockets 82 of the guide members 80, 81.

The follower 70 further includes a stop 84 extended from one of the sides 74 thereof, and located below the guide member 80 and opposite to the limb 83 of the guide member 80, and also arranged to engage with the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60, and to guide the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 to engage into the sockets 82 of the guide members 80, 81 when the follower 70 is slid or moved up relative to the container 51, and to be disengaged from the sockets 82 of the guide members 80, 81 when the follower 70 is slid or moved up relative to the container 51 again.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 9, when the follower 70 is slid or moved up relative to the container 51 by such as the grease or oil cup 20, the guide member 81 is arranged to engage with the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 and to prevent the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 from engaging into the passageways 77 of the channels 75 of the follower 70, and then to prevent the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 from engaging into the sockets 82 of the guide members 80, 81 (FIG. 10), and then to guide the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 to move downwardly to engage with the stop 84 after the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 are disengaged from the limb 83 of the guide member 81, as also shown in FIG. 10.

At this moment, the spring or resilient pawls 73 of the follower 70 may be forced to move into the compartment 38 of the casing 37, and to engage with or to grip or to grasp the projections 21 of the grease or oil cup 20, and thus to secure or to retain the grease or oil cup 20 to the receptacle 31 and/or the housing 10. When the follower 70 is released, the follower 70 may be forced to move or to slide downwardly relative to the container 51 by the spring element 63, and the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 may then be disengaged from the stops 84, and then guided to engage into the sockets 82 of the guide members 80, 81 (FIG. 11).

As shown in FIG. 11, when the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 are engaged into the sockets 82 of the guide members 80, 81, the spring or resilient pawls 73 of the follower 70 may still be retained within the compartment 38 of the casing 37, and to engage with or to grip or to grasp the projections 21 of the grease or oil cup 20, and thus to still secure or retain the grease or oil cup 20 to the receptacle 31 and/or the housing 10, and thus to prevent the grease or oil cup 20 from being disengaged from the receptacle 31 and/or the housing 10.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the follower 70 is moved up relative to the container 51 again by such as the grease or oil cup 20, the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 may be guided to move along the limb 83 of the guide member 80, and may then spring or move into the passageways 77 of the channels 75 of the follower 70 after the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 are disengaged from the limb 83 of the guide member 80 (FIG. 13), and the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 may then be guided to move along the channels 75 of the follower 70.

At this moment, the spring element 63 may bias and force the follower 70 to slide or to move downwardly relative to the container 51, until the spring or resilient pawls 73 of the follower 70 are moved out or disengaged from the compartment 38 of the casing 37, and thus to disengage or to release the projections 21 of the grease or oil cup 20, and thus to disengage or to remove the grease or oil cup 20 from the receptacle 31 and/or the housing 10.

Accordingly, the users may use a paper sheet or a rag to engage with the grease or oil cup 20, and to move the grease or oil cup 20 up relative to the casings 37, and thus to engage the projections 21 of the grease or oil cup 20 with the followers 70, in order to move the followers 70 upwardly relative to the grasping device 60, and then to allow the spring legs 61, 62 of the grasping device 60 to be engaged into the sockets 82 of the guide members 80, 81, in order to secure or retain the grease or oil cup 20 to the receptacle 31 and/or the housing 10. The hands of the users may be prevented from contacting with the grease or oil that may be provided on the outer peripheral portion of the grease or oil cup 20 by the paper sheet or the rag.

The users may also use a paper sheet or a rag to engage with the grease or oil cup 20, and to move the grease or oil cup 20 up relative to the casings 37 again, in order to disengage the grease or oil cup 20 from the receptacle 31 and/or the housing 10, and may also prevent the hands of the users from contacting with the grease or oil that may be provided or applied on the outer peripheral portion of the grease or oil cup 20 by the paper sheet or the rag. It is to be noted that the casings 37 may be directly attached or secured to the housing 10 without the receptacles 31, or the receptacles 31 may be formed integral with the housing 10, and may thus be taken as one part or one portion of the housing 10.

Accordingly, the smoke exhauster in accordance with the present invention includes a grease cup that may be easily and readily disengaged from the smoke exhauster without dirtying the hands of the users.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A smoke exhauster comprising: a housing including at least one fan device provided therein for smoke drawing purpose, and including at least one orifice formed therein, an oil cup engageable into said at least one orifice of said housing, and means for catching said oil cup to said housing when said oil cup is moved upwardly relative to said housing, and to release said oil cup from said housing when said oil cup is moved upwardly relative to said housing again.
 2. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said catching means includes a container for attaching to said housing, a follower slidably received and engaged in said container, and means for grasping said follower to said container when said follower is moved upwardly relative to said container, and to release said follower from said container when said follower is moved upwardly relative to said container again.
 3. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 2, wherein said follower includes two sides each having a channel formed therein and defined by a guide member which includes a socket formed therein, and said grasping means includes two spring legs slidably engaged into said channels of said follower, and selectively receivable in said sockets of said guide members, for grasping said follower to said container.
 4. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 3, wherein said channels of said follower each includes an inverted Y-shaped structure having two passageways formed therein for slidably receiving and guiding said spring legs.
 5. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 3, wherein said guide members each includes a downwardly extended limb for engaging with and for guiding said spring legs to engage into said sockets of said guide members, and then to be disengaged from said sockets of said guide members.
 6. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 5, wherein said follower includes a stop extended from one of said sides thereof, and located below a first guide member of said guide members and opposite to said limb of said first guide member, and arranged to engage with said spring legs of said grasping means, and to guide said spring legs of said grasping means to engage into said sockets of said guide members.
 7. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 2, wherein said container includes a space formed therein for slidably receiving said follower therein, and a passage formed therein for engaging said grasping means into said space of said container.
 8. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 7, wherein said container includes a peg extended into said space thereof, and an arm extended into said passage thereof, for engaging with said grasping means, and for positioning and retaining said grasping means in said space of said container.
 9. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 2, wherein said oil cup includes at least one projection extended therefrom, and said follower includes two resilient pawls extended therefrom for engaging with said at least one projection of said oil cup, and for detachably retaining said oil cup to said receptacle.
 10. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 9, wherein said housing includes a casing provided therein for receiving and anchoring said container, and for engaging with and for forcing said resilient pawls of said follower to engage with said at least one projection of said oil cup.
 11. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 10, wherein said casing includes at least one cavity formed therein, said container includes at least one protrusion extended outwardly therefrom, for engaging with said at least one cavity of said casing, and for detachably anchoring said container to said casing.
 12. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 10, wherein said housing includes a receptacle provided therein and having a chamber formed therein and having an open bottom for allowing said oil cup to engage into said chamber via said open bottom of said receptacle.
 13. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 12, wherein said receptacle includes an opening formed therein for viewing said oil cup.
 14. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 13, wherein said housing includes an inner peripheral portion having at least one window provided therein, and aligned with said opening of said receptacle.
 15. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 2, wherein said catching means includes a spring element positioned between said follower and said container, for biasing said follower to move relative to said container.
 16. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 15, wherein said follower includes a hole formed therein for receiving said spring element.
 17. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 16, wherein said container includes a pole extended therefrom and engageable into said hole of said follower, for engaging with and for guiding said spring element.
 18. The smoke exhauster as claimed in claim 2, wherein said container includes a space formed therein and defined by an inner peripheral surface for slidably receiving said follower, and a groove formed therein and communicating with the space thereof, said follower includes a key extended therefrom and slidably engaged in said groove of said container, and for guiding said follower to move relative to said container. 